The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-27
LOOKING FOR A sw1NDLER.
The Publisher of Several Alleged Agri-
cultural Journals Badly Wanted.


CHICAGO, April 21.-It is stated by local
paper that the postoffice authorities have
stopped the delivery OF registered mail to
7. S. Gardner, and several publications by
the name of the Farm Journal, Farmers
Album and Farming World. IL is also
said that the department has determined
upon the arrest and prosecution of Gard
ner. on the grounds that his publications
are "a swindle on the public and fraud
on the United States mail service 1t is
claimed that Gardner has for some time
been receiving over fifty registered letters
a day, each containing q postal order for
from So to SD, and has sent out over 250,-
600 circulars and specimen copies OF bis
paper within three months through the
second class mail alone. The head of the
second class mail department in the Chi
cago office decided some time ago, it is
said, that the publications named were of
the leash premium order. Three weeks
ago, in accordance with regulation of
the department which says, IF a post
master has reason to doubt that publica-
ton offered as second-class matter has a
legitimate list of subscribers, he may re-
quire the publisher thereof to satisfy him
that it has" The superintendent stopped
some $1,000 copies of Gardner's Farm
Journal, and demanded to be shown the
subscription list. Three weeks have passed,
but the Is 900 copies are still lying in the
basement of the postoffice. As Gardner
was slow furnishing his subscription list,
the superintendent sent inquiries to out
side postmasters regarding thirty persons
TO whom the Farm Journal was addressed.
The names of these presumptive subscrib-
ers were selected at random from the 13, 900
addresses Of the publication. Replies have
been received from all. 1t is claimed that
twerty-seven denied being subscribers, and
three others admitted having subscribed,
but had not yet received the publication.
Every subscriber was promised a 3
premium order-to be cashed later-for an
outlay of forty cents, with a valuable
journal thrown in for year, and the man
who got ND club was to get prize from
S25 to $1,000. From the replies of sub
scribers it Is claimed that Gardner had sent
one copy of his paper-a patent sheet got
up in imitation of q genuine periodical-tO
each person who replied to his original cir
cular, but had never paid any attention to
the clubs except to take the money. A
morning paper says the Postoffice Inspect
| ors have evidence in hand which District
Attorney Ewing believes will secure a con-
viction, the full penalty in which case will
! be fine of $500 and eighteen months i'm
| prisonment.
Gardeners offices IN this city are in the
| Scott Block, corner OF West Van Buren,
street and Hermitage avenue, where he EN-.
ploys from twenty-five to thirty young
women mailing his circulars. Since the
/ postoflice people here have begun to make
it unpleasant for him it is stated that be
has opened up in Cincinnati. His circulars
| from that city are ornamented with a large
| picture of fine business block at the cor
ner of Sixth and Vine streets. 1t is said
! that the postofiice authorities sent man to
| Cincinnati yesterday to effect Gardner's ar
rest, but they refuse to give any lnforma
| ton.